The Fort St. John Public Library adds new braille books to collection

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Public Library has added a new collection of braille books. 

This comes after the library received a $1,000 donation from the Northwest Spirit Rotary Club towards the purchase of eight braille books to add to the library’s collection. 

“These are specialized books that use a dot system to help those that have low vision or no vision be able to enjoy the stories that everyone else can enjoy,” said Stacy Haddrell-Flotre, the new director of library services.

Haddrell-Flotre believes the new collection will open up a new area. 

“We definitely want to encourage literacy throughout all different programs and abilities within our communities,” she explained. “So the braille books open up a new area for some of our higher needs [patrons], or those with disabilities, to be able to have access to the same literacy as everyone else.

Of the eight new books, Haddrell-Flotre said one stands out. 

“One of the key ones that stands out big time is the Wings of Fire series; we were able to get The Dragonet Prophecy.” 

Haddrell-Flotre noted that most of the books are for teen and youth level readers. 

Although the library has received the new books, it hopes to have them out on the shelves in the first week of May.

When asked about the process these new books will go through, she explained: “We need to receive them, have them cataloged in our system from the provider and have them with all of the proper labels so they can get shelved and found easily by patrons when they come in to look for them.” 

In addition to the braille books, the library has VOX books, which are read-along stories, audiobooks and online services with Libby. 

“We have a program that runs with the ASL Community,[to teach] basic sign language and doing a sign language story time here at the library,” Haddrell-Flotre noted. 

She said she would love for people to come and take a look at the braille books and other services the library offers to those who are hearing- or vision-impaired.